Will Cargo Theft Break Records in 2025?
Digital highway robbery: Cargo theft expected to hit record highs in 2025
Thieves are stealing cargo shipments with just a computer. Organized crime rings are increasingly targeting cargo shipments in a sophisticated form of theft that consumers rarely see but ultimately pay for.

"It happens behind closed doors. It happens in the dark of night, and the consumer doesn't really realize it, because it's not making national news," said Keith Lewis, Vice President of Operations for Verisk CargoNet.

Lewis's organization, which tracks cargo theft and works to prevent it, found cargo crimes increased 27 percent to an all-time high in 2024, with losses projected to rise another 22 percent in 2025. For the first time, the value of stolen merchandise and estimated loss exceeded $1 billion in 2023, with the average theft now valued at more than $202,000.

The types of targeted goods have shifted recently, according to experts.

"Energy drinks and solar panels — that's gone to the side now, and what we've seen the latest increase on is copper and general food and beverage and high-end technology is what's being stolen now," Lewis said.

The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB), which works on behalf of insurance companies, assists Customs and Border Protection in investigating these thefts and attempting to recover stolen goods. In a recent news release, the NICB said it has assisted in more than 240 cargo crime investigations, leading to over 70 recoveries valued at nearly $40 million. Since 2022, NICB has opened an average of 150 commercial cargo crime cases annually. wmar2news.com


How Theft is Prosecuted in NY
Is Shoplifting Decriminalized in New York?

First-time offenders might receive community service, but penalties may be severe.

Shoplifting remains a criminal offense under New York state law, prosecuted as larceny.

Theft of property valued at $1,000 or less is classified as petit larceny, a Class A misdemeanor, carrying penalties of up to one year in jail and a fine of $1,000. If the stolen property exceeds $1,000 in value, the crime is charged as grand larceny, a felony that carries multi-year prison sentences and fines ranging from $5,000 to $30,000, depending on the value and circumstances.

The 2019 bail reform law eliminated cash bail for most misdemeanors and non-violent felonies, meaning most accused shoplifters receive desk appearance tickets instead of pretrial detention.

The crime remains fully prosecutable and convictions can lead to substantial penalties. Judges have discretion; first-time offenders might receive community service, but penalties may be severe, particularly in cases of organized retail theft, which now face stronger enforcement and harsher sentences. Shoplifting is not permitted or “decriminalized” anywhere in New York. nysfocus.com


More Law Enforcement Agencies Launch Retail Crime Task Forces
Stafford Sheriff Launches Retail Crime Task Force
Stafford County officials have launched a new task force aimed at curbing retail theft and organized retail crime, but the Sheriff’s Office says it has no records or data to show whether such crimes are on the rise locally.

The joint initiative, announced last week by the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office and the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office, is designed to target both everyday shoplifting and more complex theft operations. According to the announcement, the task force will focus on identifying suspects, sharing intelligence, and streamlining prosecution.

The effort aligns with statewide action by Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares, who is seeking re-election in November, and has made retail crime a priority. Locally, officials say the task force will also work with businesses to improve theft prevention and communication.

Potomac Local News filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request with the Sheriff’s Office, asking for any data or statistics that might support the claim that retail theft has increased in Stafford County. The response from the Administrative Services Office: “This office has no records responsive to your request.”

While official statistics are unavailable, anecdotal signs point to growing concern among local retailers. potomaclocal.com


Keep High Value Merchandise Away from the Front of the Store
UK: Don’t put expensive items at front of stores because ‘people will nick them’, minister tells shopkeepers

The warning comes as chief of supermarket chain Iceland said shoplifting is getting worse because offenders appear to be able to act with ‘impunity’

Shopkeepers should not place “high value” items close to store entrances because “obviously people will nick”, a Labour minister has told shopkeepers.

It comes after new figures showed that shoplifting is at a record high, with retailers accusing police of not doing enough to tackle the problem.

Asked about the issue, policing minister Dame Diana Johnson said expensive items such as alcohol should not be displayed at the front of stores and said shopkeepers needed to do more to deter shoplifters.

Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Dame Diana said: “I think stores need to play their part in making sure that items that are high value are not at the front of the store because that is an issue in some stores, that they put bottles of alcohol at the front of the store, which obviously people will nick.

But she warned members of the public against confronting shoplifters, after Tory Police and Crime Commissioner for Thames Valley Matthew Barber claimed people had a duty to stand up to shoplifters rather than relying solely on police officers.

Shoplifting hit a record high in 2024, with the number of offences surpassing 500,000 for the first time. the-independent.com

 
Walgreens Crime Hotspot?
Over 100 police reports made in one year at east Toledo Walgreens
A drug store in east Toledo has become a hotspot for police calls, with more than 100 police reports being filed at the store in just the past year. The Woodville Road Walgreens is the only one in east Toledo, serving as a key stop for many in the neighborhood.

But in recent years, it’s also become a frequent target for crime. "It's not like people bring guns and stuff, but they just walk in, they grab stuff off the aisle, they cuss the cashier out and they walk out (with) like toilet paper, beer, whatever," Blade said.

From Aug. 4, 2024, to Aug. 4, 2025, Toledo police recorded 149 police reports at the store, three of which were robberies.

In a statement to WTOL 11, Walgreens said theft is one of the biggest challenges facing retailers and that the Woodville Road location has added deterrence tools, launched new initiatives and rolled out leadership training, all while maintaining a close partnership with Toledo police. wtol.com


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RFID is Becoming Mainstream in Retail
Retailers Accelerate RFID Adoption to Boost Inventory Visibility and Efficiency

By the D&D Daily staff

In 2025, more retailers are adopting Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) technology to improve inventory accuracy, streamline operations, and enhance the customer experience.

The global RFID market in retail is expanding quickly, with projections showing it could nearly double in less than a decade. This growth is fueled in part by mandates from major retailers such as Walmart, Target, Macy’s, and Nordstrom requiring suppliers to embed RFID tags into products—often at the item level—allowing for precise tracking from manufacturing through store shelves.

Item-level tagging enables highly accurate, automated inventory counts that are faster and less labor-intensive. Industry studies have shown inventory accuracy rising from about 63 percent to over 95 percent, while cycle-count times have dropped by more than 90 percent.

Surveys indicate the technology is becoming mainstream. Nearly all large North American retailers now use RFID in some form, with many reporting a solid return on investment. By 2026, over 60 percent of retailers plan to have RFID fully deployed.

Large-scale rollouts are also underway. Old Navy is introducing a system that integrates RFID with AI and computer vision in over 1,000 U.S. stores. The technology gives staff real-time inventory visibility, helping them restock faster and fulfill online orders more efficiently.

Suppliers are also benefiting from adoption, using RFID to improve shipment accuracy, reduce chargebacks, and gain better supply-chain visibility. Beyond logistics, retailers are exploring advanced applications like smart shelves, self-checkout systems that instantly scan multiple items, and AI-enabled demand forecasting.

As retailers work to meet customer expectations and manage increasingly complex supply chains, RFID is evolving from a niche tool into a core operational technology—one that many see as essential for building a more agile and efficient retail environment.
 

Attention Safety Leaders
Preparing for Hurricane Season 2025

EHS leaders must prioritize planning for extreme weather now in order to keep employees safe in case disaster strikes.

As safety professionals, we’re trained to anticipate risk, prepare for the worst and protect our people. In hurricane season, this preparation is vital. EHS leaders across every sector, especially those in high-risk and essential industries, must act now to protect their workforce.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is forecasting an active hurricane season for the Atlantic Ocean. According to NOAA’s 2025 outlook, there is a 60% chance of an above-normal season, a 30% chance of a near-normal season, and only a 10% chance of a below-normal season. The forecast includes 13 to 19 named storms,6 to 10 hurricanes, and 3 to 5 major hurricanes (Category 3 or higher). In occupational health and safety, these warnings must prompt action, not complacency.

Workplaces must have a well-built Business Continuity Plan (BCP) that is more than a document. In fact, it should be a living strategy grounded in risk assessments, tested protocols and ongoing communication. Key components include:

1. Risk assessment and business impact analysis: Identify what’s most vulnerable (e.g., people, assets and supply chains) and how different storm scenarios could affect operations.

2. Facility-specific emergency plans: Develop evacuation and shelter-in-place strategies tailored to each site’s risk profile and local hazards.

3. Data protection and IT redundancy: Ensure off-site or cloud-based backups and test your recovery systems frequently.

4. Physical infrastructure readiness: Reinforce structures, elevate key electrical systems and protect vulnerable locations with flood barriers or other mitigation tools.

5. Workforce training and drills: Practice makes preparation real. Your team should know what to do without second-guessing at home and on the job.

6. Robust communication protocols: Use redundant systems (e.g., SMS, apps, hotlines and more) to stay connected with employees throughout the crisis.

7. Collaboration with emergency management: Stay plugged into NOAA alerts and local emergency management systems. Sync your plan with public evacuation strategies.

8. Insurance review: Make sure your insurance coverage includes wind and flood damage. You may also consider adding business interruption insurance, which often requires separate riders. ehstoday.com

Investors Snap Up Retail Space
JLL: Investment in retail real estate rose by 23% in 2025’s first half
The onslaught of store closures by the likes of Big Lots, Joann and Rite Aid had brands and real estate investors snapping up space at a quick pace in the first half of 2025.

On average, new leases for vacated spaces were signed within seven months of closure — the shortest lag period in more than 20 years according to JLL’s just-released “Retail Market Dynamics” report.

Transaction volumes reached $28.5 billion in H1 2025, still well below the most recent peak of H1 2022. But the figure represents notable increases of 23% and 17% compared to the first halves of 2024 and 2023. chainstoreage.com
 

Musk Targets Apple
Apple rejects Musk's App Store bias claims
Apple has rejected accusations from Elon Musk that its App Store stifles competiton, insisting it is "designed to be free and fair of bias." X owner Musk has threatened Apple with legal action after claiming it had made it "impossible" for apps to compete with ChatGPT-maker OpenAI in the store

He also called OpenAI boss Sam Altman a "liar" - after Altman claimed Musk used his platform to "benefit himself and his own companies". The row is the latest flashpoint in what is an ongoing feud between the billionaires who co-founded OpenAI - but now fiercely compete after Musk left the firm. bbc.com


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